adrift

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   floating without being moored or steered

   The damaged dinghy was found adrift several miles from shore.

2. 2
   adj

   without direction, purpose, or firm guidance

   After leaving university without a plan, he felt adrift for several months.

3. 3
   adv

   into a state of floating freely or losing a secure position

   The broken rope set the buoy adrift during the night.

Formed in English from a- in the sense 'in, on, or into' and drift. The literal nautical meaning, floating without restraint, later developed the figurative sense of lacking direction or support.

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